Knee Injury Takes NBA’s Ricky Rubio Out for Season and 2012 Olympics

Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio was only in his first year with the Minnesota Timberwolves when a showdown with Kobe Bryant ended his season.

With just 20 seconds remaining in the Timberwolves’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Rubio injured his knee after colliding with Bryant. He fell to the floor and was taken off the court. After being examined it was determined that he had torn his ACL and would be out the rest of the season, also missing the 2012 Olympics, in which he was to play for the Spanish team.

After announcing in June 2011he had signed with Minnesota, Rubio made his regular season debut on December 26. After an impressive start to the season, the 21-year-old player was selected to participate in the 2012 Rising Star challenge. Before his injury, Rubio had helped the Timberwolves into playoff contention.

In his season-ending game last week, the Timberwolves fell to the Lakers at 105 to 102.

After his injury, teammate Kevin Love tweeted:

Love my teammate and friend @rickyrubio9. Here’s to a quick recovery. We will miss you.